EU Finnfund Global Connected Guarantee initiative expands to new regions and energy investments
The European Union and Finnfund, a Finnish impact investor, have agreed to expand the EU Finnfund Global Connected Guarantee programme, unlocking an additional 80 million euros in guarantee capacity to support investments in both digital and energy infrastructure in the EU’s Neighbourhood East and Western Balkans regions.
The expansion was officially announcedat a ceremony attended by the EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos and Deputy Director-General in charge of overall coordination of the strategy for Security and Migration and the Eastern Neighbourhood & Türkiye Adrienn Kiraly, together with Ambassador, Deputy Permanent Representative of Finland to the EU Lauri Hirvonen, underscoring the strong collaboration between the European Union, Finland and Finnfund in advancing sustainable and secure infrastructure investments.
The new allocation includes EUR 40 million for the Neighbourhood East and EUR 40 million for the Western Balkans, broadening the geographic reach of the programme. Türkiye is also eligible for projects with regional impact. With this top-up, the EU Finnfund Global Connected Guarantee now reaches up to EUR 302 million in total guarantee capacity.
To date, the programme has supported investments in digital infrastructure across Africa, Asia and Latin America, demonstrating Finnfund’s strong track record in areas such as broadband networks, data centres, telecom towers and digital platforms. Crucially, the expanded facility will now also support energy sector investments in the new regions, reflecting the growing recognition that digital infrastructure and energy systems are fundamentally interdependent.
“Digital infrastructure cannot function without reliable and sustainable energy. Data centres, telecom towers and connectivity networks all depend on robust power systems,” said Jussi Tourunen, Head of Energy and Infrastructure at Finnfund. “By extending the Global Connected Guarantee to cover energy investments in these regions, we are addressing this essential link. It is a strong example of how the EU recognises that renewable energy and digital development must evolve together.”
Finnfund brings significant expertise in both sectors. In the energy space, it has a strong track record in renewable energy generation, grid modernisation, distributed energy solutions and energy efficiency. Across both digital and energy investments, Finnfund applies its trusted vendor approach, promoting EU-aligned standards, enhancing cybersecurity and supporting digital sovereignty while avoiding high-risk suppliers.
The expansion delivers clear benefits for both Finland and the EU by opening up new international opportunities for Finnish and European companies and expertise in both digital and energy sectors.
“This programme creates concrete pathways for Finnish companies to bring their technology and services to new markets,” said Patrik Bredbacka, Head of EU and Finnish Partnerships at Finnfund. “By combining digital and energy investments, we are not only strengthening development impact but also enabling Finnish expertise from connectivity solutions to clean energy technologies to scale globally in partnership with the EU.”
The EU Finnfund Global Connected Guarantee supports investments in areas such as broadband connectivity, data centres, mobile payment solutions, artificial intelligence and other digital innovations, alongside the energy systems that make them viable. These investments contribute to economic growth, inclusion and climate goals, while supporting EU and Finnish priorities such as gender equality and sustainable development.
The additional guarantee capacity will be complemented by technical assistance, helping to develop a pipeline of scalable investment opportunities across the Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood regions. The expansion responds to strong demand in these markets, which have until now remained outside the scope of the existing guarantee due to geographic limitations.
By integrating energy solutions into digital infrastructure investments, the initiative highlights a key development insight: future-proof digital systems require access to affordable, reliable and renewable energy. The expanded Global Connected Guarantee therefore represents a concrete step toward building resilient, secure and climate-aligned infrastructure ecosystems in partner countries while also strengthening Europe’s and Finland’s role in shaping these markets.
More information:
Patrik Bredbacka, Head of EU and Finnish Partnerships, Finnfund
+358 40 545 8447
patrik.bredbacka@finnfund.fi
Media enquiries:
Valpuri Mäkinen, Senior Communications and Marketing Manager, Finnfund
+358 50 384 2105
valpuri.makinen@finnfund.fi
Finnfund is a Finnish development financier and impact investor. Finnfund builds a sustainable future and generates lasting impact by investing in businesses that solve global development challenges with Finnish added value. Each year, we invest 200–250 million euros in 20–30 companies in developing countries. Our focus is particularly on digital infrastructure and solutions, clean energy, forestry, agriculture, and on providing funding for small and medium-sized enterprises through financial institutions. Today, Finnfund’s investments, commitments, and investment decisions total about 1.2 billion euros. The company has about 100 employees based in Helsinki and Nairobi. For more information, please visit https://www.finnfund.fi/en
